Georgia (Trenton / Cloudland Canyon State Park)
Trip Summary
When you think of Georgia, you think of Atlanta, Savannah, Hilton Head, and such, right? I did, too, for the longest time, but the gem of the state is actually in a little spot in the northwest corner called Cloudland Canyon! This is one of my husband’s favorite spots for camping, but did you know that you can do all sorts of things there? Hiking! Hang gliding! Seeing waterfalls! More hiking!
So naturally, when my sister wanted to explore a nature spot for our annual girls trip, I knew just the place! However, I had never stayed in the cottages at Cloudland Canyon and what better time than a weekend girls trip? They are walking distance from the rim trail and are nice and secluded for peace and quiet. They also have a full kitchen and dining area in addition to spacious bedrooms and a bathroom, and the price is very reasonable for all that, so it seemed like a great option!
We booked Cottage 10 and when we arrived, we were delighted to find that it was the cutest little cottage! It also had all sorts of amenities that I didn’t expect like dish soap, trash bags, paper towels, and so on. You could also buy wood and snacks at the check-in office, so after buying a bundle of wood, we unpacked our groceries and prepared for a nice weekend in nature!
The stay was absolutely lovely and the only drawback (the wood they sell is actually green and doesn’t light at all) ended up being humorous as my sister and I struggled for hours to light the wood for a nice outside fire…to no avail. But then we saw three more bundles that past guests had left behind…because they had the same problem! So we made do with sticks and small logs we gathered from the forest, but if you go, don’t buy the wood at the check-in area–it is a complete waste of money.
The cottage, however, was lovely, and I would totally book one again! I was pleasantly surprised by how nice it was, and you couldn’t beat the proximity to the trails (we walked from our porch directly to the trail)!
So for its reasonable prices, amenities, cleanliness, and proximity to the trails, these cabins get my recommendation! Just don’t buy the wood, ha!
Cloudland Canyon State Park Cottages: A-
I mentioned trails, right? There are so many beautiful ones here! The West Rim Loop Trail is one of the most popular and that was the one you could walk to from our cottage. It is 4.8 miles but not too strenuous and has a lot of beautiful overlooks into the canyon below. The waterfalls, lush greenery, and untouched nature make it a lovely hike! The trails are also very well marked, and it was easy to find our way from our cottage to the trail and back again.
The trail has a fair number of hikers due to its popularity, but the trail is long and spread out enough that it never felt crowded. The route is also nicely shaded, and while Georgia can get very hot, it isn’t too bad in the shade.
So for its views, trail markers, and good trail conditions, this hike gets my recommendation!
West Rim Loop Trail: A
However, if you are up for a challenge, there are some spectacular waterfalls in the area, but you have to be willing to trek up and down some serious stairs! The Cherokee Falls/Hemlock Falls Trail has more than 500 stairs over a short distance, so while short, it is not easy…but the views are worth it!
One waterfall has a shore-like area where you can sit on the rocks and enjoy the view, and the other has a wooden overlook where you can enjoy the scenery. Both viewpoints are pretty and are close enough to feel the mist from the waterfall and take pictures.
This trail also gets pretty crowded and since they are shorter in length, you notice the crowds more, but when we went, it honestly wasn’t too bad. Just take water and take some breathers on the stairs if you need to! Highly recommend this trail!
Cherokee Falls / Hemlock Falls Trail: A
Of course, after some big hikes, you are going to ramp up an appetite, and luckily, there are some tasty restaurants nearby! I only have a few places listed here since we did most of our cooking/eating in the cabin, but we did enjoy the places we went! The first place I’ll list is one that I’ve been to several times on multiple visits, and that is Thatcher’s BBQ and Grille!
Their food is delicious, and they offer all sorts of BBQ dishes from sandwiches to smoked meat to “shovels” which are nacho dishes to “buckets’ which are tater tots with an assortment of toppings. Their names for the dishes are also very funny, and I dare you to order something like the “Chicky Doo Bucket” without cracking a smile at how silly it sounds!
They also have all kinds of sauces they offer at your table, desserts, and appetizers. The service was good, too, and with it being such a good experience, I went with my sister, then again with my husband and his parents when we all returned to hang glide! Highly recommend this place!
Thatcher’s BBQ and Grille: A
One other place we tried was Lalito’s, a Mexican restaurant in the same area as Thatcher’s, and that was delicious as well. They had all sorts of dishes available, served hot chips and queso, and my sister and I enjoyed our entrees.
The place was also nearly empty, but the staff was quick and courteous, and it was a pleasant dining experience.
The area of Trenton that it is in is also very centrally located, and you have several restaurants nearby as well as a coffee shop and a park across the street. All these places share the same parking lot, so space is limited, but definitely give Lalito’s a try! It’s very good!
Lalito’s: A-
Of course, there is more to this area than eating/drinking/hiking! If you haven’t been hang gliding, this is the place to go! On a separate trip, my husband and his parents came as we decided to hang glide for the first time. We had booked a tandem flight (up to 1500 feet) with Lookout Mountain Flight Park, but the trip had been cancelled twice already (once due to storms, another due to wind), so on our third try, the conditions were right, and we finally got the clearance to go!
And the experience was worth the wait! After getting harnessed up, you go to a big field and get strapped onto the hang glider, then a small plane takes you up in the air! That is really a surreal experience, because it is a super smooth ride, and the plane takes you higher and higher…and higher! The cable is then let go, and then you are flying on your own (with the instructor)! There is also a camera on one of the wings and the instructor will prompt you to look at it at certain points when the views are best (to get the best picture), and the experience was amazing!
You are actually in the air for a bit as you make several passes over the field and surrounding area, and the turns get steeper and steeper as you get close to the ground which makes the flight quite exhilarating! Then you land, and this was smoother than I expected, too. Our guide was excellent and was very calm through the whole ride as he pointed out things to see from the air and even let you steer on your own!
Highly recommend this experience! It was something I’ll never forget and with the conditions needing to be just right, I appreciated the company’s dedication to safety (even though it meant us having to reschedule several times), but it was worth the wait!
Lookout Mountain Hang Gliding: A
The good thing about Cloudland Canyon is that you can make the experience be what you want. If you want a nicer experience, there’s cottages available, a variety of trails, and even adventurous activities like hang gliding available! However, if you want to keep things super simple, you can just camp in one of the primitive sights and just enjoy nature, too! My husband and I have done that several times as we camped with our dogs there, and it was a lovely place to get away and just enjoy the peace and quiet.
The campsites are spread out enough so that each is private, and there is a loop of them, so if you are wanting something super primitive, you can hike to the far end of the loop and set up camp there or if you were wanting to stay closer to the parking area (and outhouse), you have that choice as well. There is also decent wifi in the area, which is rare for a primitive camping area, so that is a plus, too.
But whatever you do, don’t miss out on Cloudland Canyon! It is a gorgeous place and deserves multiple visits! So pretty at any season, too!
Favorite Experiences
The hang gliding experience was probably my favorite out of everything. It was my first and only time hang gliding, so it definitely stands out as a memorable excursion! The company was great, and we felt very safe. The experience was also exhilarating and one I will never forget!
I also loved spending time with my sister there. I treasure our girls trips, and this one was a great way to enjoy some time away while hiking, cooking and eating good food, and playing card games until late at night! Such a fun time, and the cottage was perfect for it. Even the night of struggling to make a fire with the green wood we bought was funny and made for some good memories!
What I Wish I Knew
I have camped here a number of times, including the time we went hang gliding, and I remember that the night before was one of the coldest camping nights I have ever experienced, so just know that the temperature can drop quite dramatically on some unexpected occasions. We had our two dogs with us, and they were both freezing as well, so we were all huddled in the tent together (two dogs and two adults in a small two person tent is an experience!). Since then, we usually bring sweaters for the dogs and have cold weather sleeping bags, so we are more prepared now, but if you camp in the winter, be sure to bring enough layers to keep you warm!
Also, when I went with my sister, we had a whole list of restaurants we wanted to try, but couldn’t go to a lot of them, because they were either closed or only had limited hours, so that was a little frustrating. So if you have a spot that you want to try out, don’t always depend on the website’s hours, but rather, call them and confirm that they will be open.
Other than those things, there is not a lot that I would do differently. This is really an awesome place to visit, so if you are wanting to explore nature and enjoy some time away, this is the place! Highly recommend!
I also post reels and TikToks regularly of all the places I’ve reviewed on here, so if you want to see some videos of what to expect, check out my social media here:
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Happy travels!
